Backlight assembly, liquid crystal display apparatus having the same and method of manufacturing lamp-fixing member

ABSTRACT

A backlight assembly includes a receiving container, lamps, a diffusion plate and a lamp-fixing member. The receiving container includes a bottom plate and sidewalls together providing a receiving space. The lamps are arranged substantially parallel to each other on the bottom plate. The diffusion plate is disposed over the lamps. The lamp-fixing member includes a body portion extending substantially perpendicular to the lamps, a buffer protruding upwardly from the body portion, a diffusion plate supporting portion protruding from the buffer to support the diffusion plate and a lamp-fixing portion formed at the body portion to fix the lamps. Therefore, the buffer having elasticity is formed at an area at which the diffusion plate supporting portion is formed, so that rubbing between the diffusion plate and the diffusion plate supporting portion may be reduced.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos.10-2005-0104073, filed on Nov. 2, 2005, and 10-2006-0006580 filed onJan. 21, 2006, and all the benefits accruing there from under 35 U.S.C.§ 119, the contents of which in their entirety are herein incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a backlight assembly, a liquid crystaldisplay (“LCD”) apparatus having the backlight assembly and a method ofmanufacturing a lamp-fixing member. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a backlight assembly having a lamp-fixing memberwhich prevents a diffusion plate from moving to improve display quality,an LCD apparatus having the backlight assembly and a method ofmanufacturing the lamp-fixing member.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) apparatus displays an imageusing liquid crystals. The LCD apparatus is a flat panel displayapparatus. The LCD apparatus has various merits compared to otherdisplay devices, such as thin thickness, low driving voltage and lowpower consumption, for example, but is not limited to the foregoing.Therefore, the LCD apparatus has been widely used in various fields.

The LCD apparatus is a non-emissive type display apparatus. Therefore,the LCD apparatus requires a backlight assembly to supply an LCD panelwith light.

The backlight assembly includes at least one lamp which generates light.For example, a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (“CCFL”)having a long cylindrical shape may be employed by the backlightassembly as the lamps. According to the position of the at least onelamp, the backlight assembly is classified as either an edgeillumination type backlight assembly or a direct illumination typebacklight assembly.

In the case of the edge illumination type backlight assembly, one or twolamps are disposed adjacent to the side edge surface of a transparentlight-guide plate. The edge illumination type backlight assemblyproduces multiple reflections of the light using one surface of thelight-guide plate, and emits the light to the LCD panel. In the case ofthe direct illumination type backlight assembly, a plurality of thelamps is disposed under the LCD panel, a diffusion plate is disposedover the lamps, and a reflective plate is disposed under the lamps, sothat the direct illumination type backlight assembly respectivelydiffuses and reflects the light emitted from the lamps. Therefore, theedge illumination type backlight assembly is used for a relativelysmall-screen LCD apparatus, such as a notebook computer, a monitor, etc.On the other hand, the direct illumination type backlight assembly isused for a large-screen LCD apparatus with high luminance.

In the case of the direct illumination type backlight assembly for usein the large-screen LCD apparatus, a length of the lamps and a size ofthe diffusion plate are increased. Therefore, the backlight assemblyincludes a lamp-fixing member which fixes the lamp and supports thediffusion plate.

More specifically, the lamp-fixing member includes a lamp-fixing portionto fix the lamp and a diffusion plate supporting portion to support thediffusion plate. However, when the diffusion plate freely moves due tovibration of the LCD apparatus, the vibration causes rubbing between thediffusion plate and the diffusion plate supporting portion. The rubbingresults in rubbed regions on the diffusion plate, thus deteriorating adisplay quality of the LCD apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a backlight assembly capable ofpreventing a diffusion plate from being rubbed with a lamp-fixing memberto improve display quality of a liquid crystal display (“LCD”)apparatus.

The present invention also provides an LCD apparatus having theabove-mentioned backlight assembly.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing thelamp-fixing member of the above-mentioned backlight assembly.

In an exemplary embodiment of a backlight assembly according to thepresent invention, the backlight assembly includes a receivingcontainer, lamps, a diffusion plate and a lamp-fixing member. Thereceiving container includes a bottom plate and sidewalls, whichtogether provides a receiving space. The lamps are arrangedsubstantially parallel to each other on the bottom plate of thereceiving container. The diffusion plate is disposed over the lamps. Thelamp-fixing member includes a body portion, a buffer, a diffusion platesupporting portion and a lamp-fixing portion. The body portion extendssubstantially perpendicular to the lamps. The buffer protrudes upwardlyfrom the body portion. The diffusion plate supporting portion protrudesfrom the buffer to support the diffusion plate. The lamp-fixing portionis formed at the body portion and fixes the lamps.

A cross-section of the buffer cut along a longitudinal direction of thebody portion may have a trapezoid shape. Alternatively, a cross-sectionof the buffer cut along the longitudinal direction of the body portionmay have an arch shape.

In an exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatus according to the presentinvention, the LCD apparatus includes a backlight assembly and a displayunit. The backlight assembly includes a receiving container, lamps, adiffusion plate and a lamp-fixing member. The receiving containerincludes a bottom plate and sidewalls, which together provide areceiving space. The lamps are arranged substantially parallel to eachother on the bottom plate of the receiving container. The diffusionplate is disposed over the lamps. The lamp-fixing member includes a bodyportion, a buffer, a diffusion plate supporting portion and alamp-fixing portion. The body portion extends substantiallyperpendicular to the lamps. The buffer protrudes upwardly from the bodyportion. The diffusion plate supporting portion protrudes from thebuffer to support the diffusion plate. The lamp-fixing portion is formedat the body portion and fixes the lamps. The display unit includes anLCD panel being disposed over the diffusion plate to display an image,and a driving circuit portion driving the LCD panel.

In an exemplary embodiment of a method of manufacturing a lamp-fixingmember according to the present invention, in order to manufacture thelamp-fixing member including a diffusion plate supporting portion tosupport a diffusion plate, a mold frame is formed by combining a firstcore, a second core and a third core, wherein the third core has agroove corresponding to an end portion of the diffusion plate supportingportion. Then, a melted resin input inside of the mold frame. Then,after the melted resin is refrigerated inside of the mold frame, thefirst core, the second core and the third core are separated,respectively.

According to the present invention, the buffer having elasticity isformed at an area at which the diffusion plate supporting portion isformed, so that the rubbing between the diffusion plate and thediffusion plate supporting portion may be reduced and the displayquality may be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become readily apparent by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assemblyin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial plan view illustrating a diffusion platereceived in a receiving container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a lamp-fixing memberillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lamp-fixing member inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lamp-fixing member inaccordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 an exploded perspective view illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay (“LCD”) apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mold frame formanufacturing a lamp-fixing member in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention described below may be varied modified in many different wayswithout departing from the inventive principles disclosed herein, andthe scope of the present invention is therefore not limited to theseparticular flowing embodiments. Rather, these exemplary embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art byway of example and not of limitation.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can bedirectly on or connected to the other element or layer or interveningelements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element isreferred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” anotherelement or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms areonly used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus,a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed belowcould be termed a second element, component, region, layer or sectionwithout departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of thepresent invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood thatthe terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein withreference to cross-section illustrations that are schematicillustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) ofthe invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrationsas a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances,are to be expected. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionshould not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regionsillustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result,for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted regionillustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curvedfeatures and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges ratherthan a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, aburied region formed by implantation may result in some implantation inthe region between the buried region and the surface through which theimplantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figuresare schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustratethe actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limitthe scope of the invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in more detail with reference to the accompanied drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assemblyin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a backlight assembly 100 includes a receivingcontainer 200, a plurality of lamps 300, a diffusion plate 350 and alamp-fixing member 400.

The receiving container 200 includes a bottom plate 210 and sidewalls220. The sidewalls 220 respectively extend from peripheral portions ofthe bottom plate 210, so that the bottom plate 210 and the sidewalls 220together provide a receiving space. The sidewalls 220 may be integrallyformed with the bottom plate 210. The receiving container 200 mayinclude a metal which has high strength and may not be easily deformed.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a first diffusion plateguiding portion 222 disposed on the sidewalls 220 of the receivingcontainer 200. For example, four of the first diffusion plate guidingportions 222 may be disposed on the sidewalls 220 of the receivingcontainer 200. The first diffusion plate guiding portions 222 guide thediffusion plate 350, to fix the diffusion plate 350 at a predeterminedposition on the receiving container 200. The first diffusion plateguiding portions 222 may be disposed on two corresponding sidewalls 220of the receiving container 200 along a direction which is substantiallyparallel with a longitudinal direction of the lamps 300. The firstdiffusion plate guiding portions 222 protrude upwardly from thesidewalls 220 of the receiving container 200 so as to properly guide thediffusion plate 350 into the predetermined position on the receivingcontainer 200. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first diffusion plateguiding portions 222 protrude upwardly from a horizontally disposedupper surface defining the sidewalls 220 of the receiving container 200.

The lamps 300 are disposed on the bottom plate 210 of the receivingcontainer 200 substantially in parallel to one another. The lamps 300generate the light in response to a driving signal provided from anexternal device (not shown). A plurality of cold cathode fluorescentlamps (“CCFLs”) having a long cylindrical shape may be employed as thelamps 300. Alternatively, a plurality of external electrode fluorescentlamps (“EEFLs”), each EEFL having external electrodes formed at endportions of the EEFL, may be employed as the lamps 300. Also, each ofthe lamps 300 may have a curved shape, such as a U-shape. Both of theend portions of the lamps 300 are fixed in lamp holders 310 which aredisposed on the receiving container 200.

The diffusion plate 350 is disposed over the lamps 300. The diffusionplate 350 diffuses the light provided by the lamps 300 to improveluminance uniformity. The diffusion plate 350 may have a plate shape.Also, the diffusion plate 350 is separated from the lamps 300 by apredetermined distance.

The diffusion plate 350 is formed of an optically transparent material.The diffusion plate 350 may further be formed of a light-diffusingmaterial to diffuse the light. For example, the diffusion plate 350 maybe formed of polymethyl methacrylate (“PMMA”) as the opticallytransparent material.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include at least one opticalsheet 360 disposed on the diffusion plate 350. The optical sheet 360changes paths of the light diffused by the diffusion plate 350 toimprove optical characteristics. The optical sheet 360 may include aprism sheet to improve front-view luminance by condensing the light inthe front direction, which has been diffused by the diffusion plate 350.Also, the optical sheet 360 may include a diffusion sheet to furtherdiffuse the light diffused by the diffusion plate 350. As describedabove, the backlight assembly 100 may further include various functionaloptical sheets according to optical characteristics which are requiredor desired.

The lamp-fixing member 400 is fixed to the bottom plate 210 to fix thelamps 300. When the length of the lamps 300 is increased, the lamps 300may deform or sag. Therefore, the lamp-fixing member 400 stably supportsthe middle portion of the lamps 300 and may prevent the deformation andsagging of the lamps 300.

The number of the lamp-fixing members 400 may be determined by thenumber of the lamps 300. For example, each of the lamp-fixing members400 may fix four lamps 300, but is not limited thereto.

When the number of the lamp-fixing members 400 is more than one, eachlamp-fixing member 400 may be disposed in a zigzag arrangement along adirection which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the lamps 300. When each lamp-fixing member 400 is disposedin one direction, a defect, such as a dark line which may be formedcorresponding to the lamp-fixing members 400, may be generated.Therefore, the lamp-fixing members 400 may be disposed in a zigzagarrangement, so that the dark line defect may be prevented.

Each of the lamps 300 is fixed by one lamp-fixing member 400. However,when the lamps 300 are too long, each of the lamps 300 may be fixed bymore than one of the lamp-fixing members 400. Each of the lamp-fixingmembers 400 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermineddistance along the longitudinal direction of the lamps 300. In thiscase, the lamp-fixing members 400 may be disposed in a zigzagarrangement along the direction which is substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction of the lamps 300.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a side mold 370 which isdisposed at an end portion of the lamps 300. The side mold 370 iscombined with the receiving container 200 to cover the end portion ofthe lamps 300. The side mold 370 improves the luminance uniformity bycovering the end portion of the lamps 300, which has a relatively lowerluminance than other portions of the lamps 300. The side mold 370supports an edge portion of the diffusion plate 350 disposed on the sidemold 370, and guides the diffusion plate 350 into position. The sidemold 370 may include a second diffusion plate guiding portion 372 whichguides the diffusion plate 350 into position. The second diffusion plateguiding portion 372 protrudes by a predetermined height from an uppersurface defining the side mold 370.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a middle mold (not shown)to fix the diffusion plate 350 and the optical sheet 360 to thereceiving container 200. The middle mold is combined with an upperportion of the receiving container 200 to fix the edge portion of thediffusion plate 350 and the optical sheet 360 to the receiving container200.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial plan view illustrating the diffusion plate350 received in the receiving container 200 in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the diffusion plate 350 is supported by thereceiving container 200 and the side mold 370. Particularly, first sidesof the diffusion plate 350, which are substantially parallel with alongitudinal direction of the lamps 300, are supported by the sidewalls220 of the receiving container 200, and second sides of the diffusionplate 350, which are substantially perpendicular to the first sides, aresupported by the side mold 370. Then, the receiving position of thediffusion plate 350 is guided by the first diffusion plate guidingportion 222 of the receiving container 200 and the second diffusionplate guiding portion 372 of the side mold 370.

The diffusion plate 350 may be easily transformed by heat and moisture.Therefore, the diffusion plate 350 is received so as to be separatedfrom the first diffusion plate guiding portion 222 and the seconddiffusion plate guiding portion 372 by a predetermined distancecorresponding to a degree of transformation of the diffusion plate 350.For example, the diffusion plate 350 may be separated from the firstdiffusion plate guiding portion 222 and the second diffusion plateguiding portion 372 by about 1.5 mm. The second diffusion plate guidingportion 372 may include a sheet-fixing protrusion to fix the opticalsheet 360.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a lamp-fixing memberillustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustratingthe lamp-fixing member in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lamp-fixing member 400 includes a bodyportion 410, a buffer 420, a diffusion plate supporting portion 430 anda lamp-fixing portion 440.

The body portion 410 is formed so as to extend along a direction whichis substantially perpendicular to a plurality of the lamps 300. The bodyportion 410 may be formed so as to be opened or not coplanar at a lowerportion corresponding to the buffer 420. Alternatively, the body portion410 may be integrally formed so as to cover a lower portion of thebuffer 420.

The buffer 420 protrudes upwardly from the body portion 410, so as to benot coplanar with the body portion 410. For example, the buffer 420 isformed at a middle portion of the body portion 410. Alternatively, aplurality of the buffers 420 may be formed to be separated by apredetermined distance along a longitudinal direction of the bodyportion 410.

A shape of the buffer 420 may be adjusted to increase elasticity of thebuffer 420. The buffer 420 buffers a force formed by moving and saggingof the diffusion plate 350 against the diffusion plate supportingportion 430 when the diffusion plate 350 is received in the receivingcontainer 200. A cross-section of the buffer 420 cut along alongitudinal direction of the body portion 410 may have substantially atrapezoid shape, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In other words, the buffer420 includes inclined sides relative and joined to the body portion 410.

The diffusion plate supporting portion 430 may protrude from the buffer420 to support the diffusion plate 350. A height of the diffusion platesupporting portion 430 may be larger than that of the lamp-fixingportion 440. The larger the diffusion plate 350 is, the lower the middleportion of the diffusion plate 350 sags. Therefore, the diffusion platesupporting portion 430 may prevent the sagging of the diffusion plate350. Also, the diffusion plate supporting portion 430 maintains thedistance between the diffusion plate 350 and the lamps 300 which arefixed by the lamp-fixing portion 440. For example, the diffusion platesupporting portion 430 may have a cone shape, as illustrated.Accordingly, when the rubbing between the diffusion plate 350 and thediffusion plate supporting portion 430 is produced by the moving of thediffusion plate 350, the rubbing may be minimized by the elasticity ofthe buffer 420.

The lamp-fixing portion 440 is formed on the upper-surface of the bodyportion 410, and supports the lamps 300. The lamp-fixing portion 440protrudes upwardly from the body portion 410. The lamp-fixing portion440 may have an opening portion 442 so that the lamps 300 may beinserted into the opening portion 442.

A width of the opening portion 442 is determined by a diameter of thelamps 300. The larger the width of the opening portion 442 is, theeasier each of the lamps 300 may be inserted into the lamp-fixingportion 440. However, when the width of the opening is too large, eachof the lamps 300 may be easily separated from the lamp-fixing portion440. Therefore, the width of the opening portion 442 desirably may havea range of from about 80% to about 90% of the diameter of the lamps 300.For example, when the diameter of the lamps 300 is about 4 mm, the widthof the opening portion 442 may be about 3.3 mm.

A plurality of lamp-fixing portions 440 may be respectively formed atboth sides of the buffer 420. For example, the lamp-fixing member 400includes four lamp-fixing portions 440 (two on either side of the buffer420). Alternatively, the lamp-fixing member 400 may include variousnumbers of the lamp-fixing portions 440.

The lamp-fixing member 400 may further include at least one combiningportion 450 to be combined with the receiving container 200. Thecombining portion 450 may be formed at the bottom surface of the bodyportion 410. The position and the number of the combining portions 450may be changed.

The backlight assembly 100 may further include a reflective plate 380disposed between the receiving container 200 and the lamps 300. Thereflective plate 380 reflects light provided by the lamps 300 to thediffusion plate 380, so that the reflective plate 380 may improveefficiency of the light. The reflective plate 380, for example, is fixedto the bottom plate 210 of the receiving container 200.

The reflective plate 380 and the bottom plate 210 of the receivingcontainer 200 have openings corresponding to the combining portion 450of the lamp-fixing member 400. The combining portion 450 penetratesthrough the openings of the reflective plate 380 and the bottom plate210, and is hooked with the bottom plate 210.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a lamp-fixing memberin accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a lamp-fixing member 500 includes a body portion510, a buffer 520, a diffusion plate supporting portion 530, alamp-fixing portion 540 and a combining portion 550. The lamp-fixingmember 500 is substantially the same as the lamp-fixing member in FIG. 4except for the buffer 520, and any further explanations of the rest ofthe structure will be omitted.

The buffer 520 protrudes upwardly from the body portion 510. Forexample, one buffer 520 is formed at a middle portion of the bodyportion 510. Alternatively, a plurality of the buffers 520 may be formedso as to be separated by a predetermined distance along a longitudinaldirection of the body portion 510.

The buffer 520 may have an elastic shape to buffer a force applied tothe diffusion plate supporting portion 530, which force is formed bymoving and sagging of the diffusion plate 350. For example, across-section of the buffer cut along a longitudinal direction of thebody portion may have a substantially arch shape. Also, the diffusionplate supporting portion 530 may have an empty structure to improveelasticity. For example, the diffusion plate supporting portion 530 maydefine a cavity or be cut out to improve elasticity.

FIG. 6 an exploded perspective view illustrating an LCD apparatus inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, an LCD apparatus 700 in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a backlightassembly 100 supplying light and a display unit 800 displaying an image.

The backlight assembly 100 of the present exemplary embodiment issubstantially the same as the backlight assembly in FIGS. 1 to 5. Thus,the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same or likeparts as those described in the above-explained embodiment, and anyfurther explanations will be omitted.

The display unit 800 includes a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel 810and a driving circuit portion 820. The LCD panel 810 displays the imageby using the light provided by the backlight assembly 100. The drivingcircuit portion 820 drives the LCD panel 810.

The LCD panel 810 includes a first substrate 812, a second substrate 814and a liquid crystal layer 816. The second substrate 814 is combinedwith the first substrate 812 so that the second substrate 814 faces thefirst substrate 812. The liquid crystal layer 816 is disposed betweenthe first and second substrates 812 and 814.

The first substrate 812 includes a plurality of thin-film transistors(not shown) arranged in a matrix shape. For example, the first substrate812 may include glass. A gate electrode of each of the TFTs iselectrically connected to one of the gate lines (not shown) on the glasssubstrate 812. A source electrode of each of the TFTs is electricallyconnected to one of the data lines (not shown) on the glass substrate812. A drain electrode of each of the TFTs is electrically connected toa pixel electrode (not shown) that includes an optically transparent andelectrically conductive material.

The second substrate 814 may be a color filter substrate which includesred, green and blue color filters to display color. For example, thesecond substrate 814 may include glass. The second substrate 814 mayfurther include a common electrode which includes an opticallytransparent and electrically conductive material.

When gate and data signals are applied to the gate and sourceelectrodes, respectively, of each of the TFTs, the TFTs are turned on togenerate an electric field between the pixel electrode and the commonelectrode. An arrangement of liquid crystal molecules of the liquidcrystal layer 816 is changed in response to the electric field appliedthereto, and thus a light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer 816is changed to display the image.

The driving circuit portion 820 includes a data printed circuit board(“PCB”) 822, a gate PCB 824, a data driving circuit film 826 and a gatedriving circuit film 828. The data PCB 822 applies a data driving signalto the LCD panel 810. The gate PCB 824 applies a gate signal to the LCDpanel 810. The data PCB 822 is electrically connected to the LCD panel810 through the data driving circuit film 826. The gate PCB 824 iselectrically connected to the LCD panel 810 through the gate drivingcircuit film 828.

Each of the data and gate driving circuit films 826 and 828 may includea driving chip. For example, each of the data and gate driving circuitfilms 826 and 828 may include a tape carrier package (“TCP”), achip-on-film (“COF”), etc.

The data driving circuit film 826 is bent toward a lower surface of areceiving container 200 along a side surface of the receiving container200, so that the data PCB 822 is disposed on the side surface and thelower surface of the receiving container 200. The gate PCB 824 is benttoward the lower surface of the receiving container 200, so that thegate PCB is disposed on the side surface and the lower surface of thereceiving container 200. An auxiliary signal line may be formed on theLCD panel 810 and the gate flexible circuit film 828, so that the gatePCB 824 may be omitted.

The LCD apparatus 700 may further include a middle mold 910. The middlemold 910 is disposed between an optical sheet 360 and the LCD panel 810.The middle mold 910 fixes the optical sheet 360 and a diffusion plate350 to the receiving container 200, and supports the LCD panel 810. Themiddle mold 910 may be one piece having a frame shape. Alternatively,the middle mold 910 may be divided into two pieces, and each of thepieces may have a U-shape. Alternatively, the middle mold 910 may bedivided into three or four pieces, and each of the pieces may have anL-shape.

The LCD apparatus 700 may further include a top chassis 920 to fix thedisplay unit 800 to the middle mold 910. The top chassis 920 covers anedge portion of the LCD panel 810, and is combined with the receivingcontainer 200 to fix the LCD panel 810 to the middle mold 910. The topchassis 920 protects the LCD panel 910 from external impacts. Also, thetop chassis 920 may prevent the LCD panel 810 from being separated fromthe middle mold 910. The top chassis 920 may have one piece having theframe shape. Alternatively, the top chassis 920 may be divided into twopieces, and each of the pieces may have a U-shape. Alternatively, thetop chassis 920 may be divided into three or four pieces, and each ofthe pieces may have an L-shape.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mold frame formanufacturing a lamp-fixing member in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, the lamp-fixing member 400 includes adiffusion plate supporting portion 430, and the mold frame 600 is formedby combining with a first core 610, a second core 620 and a third core630.

The first core 610 may be disposed at an upper portion of the mold frame600. The second core 620 may be disposed at a bottom portion of the moldframe 600. The third core 630 may be arranged in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the first core 610 and the second core620.

The first core 610 may have a first groove 612 corresponding to a firsthalf of the body portion 410, the buffer 420, the diffusion platesupporting portion 430, the lamp-fixing portion 440 and the combiningportion 450 of the lamp-fixing member 400. The second core 620 may havea second groove 622 corresponding to a second half of the body portion410, the buffer 420, the diffusion plate supporting portion 430, thelamp-fixing portion 440 and the combining portion 450 of the lamp-fixingmember 400. The second half of the body portion 410 is opposite to thefirst half of the body portion 410. The third core 630 may have a thirdgroove 632 corresponding to an end portion of the diffusion platesupporting portion 430. A groove corresponding to the lamp-fixing member400 may be formed inside of the mold frame 600 by combining the firstcore 610, the second core 620 and the third core 630.

When the mold frame is formed by only two cores, a partition line isformed along a center line of the diffusion plate supporting portion 430having a cone shape. Accordingly, a micro-burr may be formed at the endportion of the diffusion plate supporting portion 430 in contact withthe diffusion plate 350. Thus, the diffusion plate 350 may be cracked bythe burr, which may be a cause of a defect of the LCD apparatus.However, in FIG. 7, the first core 610, the second 620 and the thirdcore 630 having the third groove 632, corresponding to the end portionof the diffusion plate supporting portion 430, are used to manufacturethe lamp-fixing member 400 so that the micro-burr is absent on the endportion of the diffusion plate supporting portion 430 in contact withthe diffusion plate 350.

In order to manufacture the lamp-fixing member 400, the mold frame 600is formed by combining the first core 610, the second core 620 and thethird core 630. Then, a melted resin is put inside of the mold frame600. For example, the melted resin put inside of the mold frame 600through an inserting portion (not shown) which is formed at one side ofthe mold frame 600.

Then, the melted resin inside of the mold frame 600 is refrigerated.Then, the lamp-fixing member 400 is completed by separating the firstcore 610, the second core 620 and the third core 630.

According to the present invention, a buffer having elasticity is formedat an area at which a diffusion plate supporting portion of alamp-fixing member is formed. Therefore, rubbing between a diffusionplate and the diffusion plate supporting portion may be minimized, sothat a crack of the diffusion plate may be prevented and the displayquality may be improved.

Also, a mold frame for manufacturing a lamp-fixing member may include acore having a groove corresponding to an end portion of the diffusionplate supporting portion, so that a micro-burr which may be formed atthe end portion of the diffusion plate supporting portion may beprevented and a crack of the diffusion plate may be prevented from beinggenerated.

The present invention has been described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments. It is evident, however, that many alternative modificationsand variations will be apparent to those having skill in the art inlight of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the present inventionembraces all such alternative modifications and variations as fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A supporting pin comprising: a body portion; abuffer protruding upwardly from the body portion; and a diffusion platesupporting portion protruding from the buffer to support a diffusionplate, the diffusion plate supporting portion defining a cavity therein.20. The supporting pin of claim 19, wherein a cross-section of thebuffer cut along a longitudinal direction of the body portion has atrapezoid shape.
 21. The supporting pin of claim 19, wherein across-section of the buffer cut along a longitudinal direction of thebody portion has an arch shape.
 22. The supporting pin of claim 19,wherein the buffer is formed at a middle portion of the body portion.23. The supporting pin of claim 19, wherein the body portion is openedat a lower portion corresponding to the buffer.
 24. The supporting pinof claim 19, wherein the diffusion plate supporting portion has a coneshape.
 25. A backlight assembly comprising: a receiving container; aplurality of light sources arranged substantially in parallel with eachother on a bottom plate of the receiving container; a diffusion platebeing disposed over the light sources; and a supporting pin including: abody portion; a buffer protruding upwardly from the body portion; and adiffusion plate supporting portion protruding from the buffer to supportthe diffusion plate, the diffusion plate supporting portion defining acavity therein.
 26. The backlight assembly of claim 25, wherein thebuffer protrudes in a trapezoid shape or an arch shape relative to aplane of the body portion so as to have a predetermined elasticity. 27.The backlight assembly of claim 25, wherein the buffer is formed at amiddle portion of the body portion and the body portion is opened at alower portion corresponding to the buffer.
 28. The backlight assembly ofclaim 25, further comprising: a reflective plate disposed under thelight sources; and an optical sheet disposed over the diffusion plate.29. The backlight assembly of claim 25, further comprising a lightsource-fixing portion being formed at the body portion and fixing thelight source s.
 30. The backlight assembly of claim 29, wherein thelight source-fixing portion protrudes upwardly from the body portion andhas an opening portion into which the light source is inserted.
 31. Thebacklight assembly of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of lightsource-fixing portions respectively disposed at both sides of thebuffer.
 32. The backlight assembly of claim 29, wherein the lightsource-fixing member further comprises a combining portion being formedat a bottom surface of the body portion to be combined with the bottomplate of the receiving container.
 33. The backlight assembly of claim29, wherein each of a plurality of light source-fixing members isdisposed in a zigzag arrangement relative to the light source-fixingmembers along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to alongitudinal direction of the light sources.
 34. A liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) apparatus comprising: a backlight assembly including: areceiving container; a plurality of light sources arranged substantiallyin parallel with each other on a bottom plate of the receivingcontainer; a diffusion plate being disposed over the light sources; anda supporting pin including: a body portion; a buffer protruding upwardlyfrom the body portion; and a diffusion plate supporting portionprotruding from the buffer to support the diffusion plate, the diffusionplate supporting portion defining a cavity therein; and a display unitincluding an LCD panel being disposed over the diffusion plate todisplay an image, and a driving circuit portion driving the LCD panel.35. The LCD apparatus of claim 34, wherein the buffer protrudes in atrapezoid shape or an arch shape relative to a plane of the body portionso as to have a predetermined elasticity.
 36. The LCD apparatus of claim34, wherein the buffer is formed at a middle portion of the body portionand the body portion is opened at a lower portion corresponding to thebuffer.
 37. The LCD apparatus of claim 34, wherein the backlightassembly further comprises: a reflective plate disposed under the lightsources; and an optical sheet disposed over the diffusion plate.